Ronald Michael Gallagher

Ronald Michael Gallagher, age 82, of Springfield, passed away Thursday, November 27, 2014 at NHC Healthcare. Funeral services will be held Wednesday, December 3, 2014 at 11am in the chapel of the Austin & Bell Funeral Home in Springfield with Dr. James Dean officiating. Burial will follow in the Springfield Memorial Gardens with Denny Choate, Jim Balthrop, Winfield Wilkins, Jeff Walker, Joe Johnson and David Bellar serving as pallbearers. Visitation will be held at the funeral home on Tuesday, December 2, 2014 from 4-7pm and again on Wednesday from 10am until the hour of service. Mr. Gallagher was born March 22, 1932 in Chicago, Illinois to the late John Joseph and Elizabeth Weber Gallagher. He attended Leo High School in Chicago. After high school he attended Notre Dame University in South Bend, Indiana and later earned a Bachelor’s Degree from the Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago where he played on the basketball team. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army where he served in Korea during the Korean War. While in Korea he was wounded and spent 14 months in Army hospitals and was the recipient of a Purple Heart. Ron began working at Unarco Industries in Blue Island, Illinois in 1959. In 1960 he moved to Springfield to start the steel storage rack division for Unarco Industries where he held the position of CEO for 30 years. He developed a deep love for Springfield and the South. Ron was a member of the Rotary Club for 58 years and served as President from 1988-1989. He held numerous terms as president of the Springfield Country Club where he was instrumental in maintaining the club’s financial stability. He served on the Robertson County 911 Board, was an avid golfer but enjoyed all sports. In addition to his parents Mr. Gallagher is preceded in death by his sisters, Patricia Gallagher Miller and Rita Gallagher. He is survived by his wife of 36 years, Amy Ralston Gallagher, his son, Michael John (Sharon) Gallagher of Springfield; daughters, Shannon (Mike) Gallagher Pelikan of Broomfield, CO and Sharon (Jones) Gallagher Rivera of San Francisco, CA; and grandchildren, Vincent Gallagher, Lisa Pelikan and Silas Rivera. The family requests memorial contributions be made to the Wounded Warrior Project and may be sent in c/o Austin & Bell. Austin & Bell Funeral Home in Springfield is in charge of these arrangements. AUSTIN & BELL FUNERAL HOME- 509 WALNUT STREET, SPRINGFIELD, TN (615) 384-1000

Ronald Michael Gallagher

March 22, 1932 - November 27, 2014